Portable camping stove

ABSTRACT

A portable camping stove including a casing and a fuel tank subassembly detachably mountable on the casing. The casing has a key slot and the sub-assembly has a headed stud cooperating with the slot. A leg member pivotally mounted on the casing, when in collapsed condition, conceals the slot so that the stud cannot pass through thereby preventing the sub-assembly from being mounted on the casing. When the leg member is in substantially erected position, the slot is exposed to permit mounting of the sub-assembly. In fully erected position the sub-assembly is locked to the casing against inadvertent displacement.

Unite Weimer States atet [54] PORTABLE CAMPING STOVE [72] Inventor: Gerald A. Weimer, Kirkwood, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Kellwood Company, St. Louis, Mo.

[22] Filed: May 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 139,581

[52] US. Cl. ..126/38 [51] Int. Cl ..F24c 5/20 [58] Field of Search 126/38, 44; 431/234 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,701,879 2/ l 929 Goldberg 126/38 1,714,264 5/1929 Goldberg et al. ..l26/38 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 39,504 10/1915 Sweden ..126/38 1 3,67,125 [451 Aug. 29, 1972 229,497 7/ 1960 Australia 1 26/38 Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Attorney-Nathan N. Kraus and Joseph R. Marcus [5 7] ABSTRACT A portable camping stove including a casing and a fuel tank sub-assembly detachably mountable on the'casing. The casing has a key slot and the sub-assembly has a headed stud cooperating with the slot. A leg member pivotally mounted on the casing, when in collapsed condition, conceals the slot so that the stud cannot pass through thereby preventing the sub-assembly from being mounted on the casing. When the 'leg member is in substantially erected position, the

slot is exposed to permit mounting of the sub-assembly. In fully erected position the sub-assembly is locked to the casing against inadvertent displacement.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMIBZB me 3.687.125

7g FIGoZ II III! INVENTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a portable camp stove of the gype utilizing gasoline and other hydrocarbon liquids as uel.

The stove comprises a sheet metal casing of generally rectangular shape and a grill for supporting utensils. A cover member and air deflector shields are hingedly mounted at the back and side edges of the casing and are adapted to be collapsed in compact arrangement when the stove is being transported.

A sub-assembly comprising a fuel tank, a valve body and a generator or vaporizer tube is provided, this subassembly being detachably mountable on the front wall of the casing for use and being storable within the casing when the stove is being transported. When the tank is mounted on the casing the generator or vaporizer tube extends through and beneath the grill over the flame of the burner and into the entrance of a U-shaped Bunsen tube. In use, the tank is pressurized and fuel vapor flows through the vaporizer tube into the Bunsen tube. If the tank and tube are inadvertently displaced or removed from the casing while the burner is in operation, the flame could ignite the vapor spray emanating from the nozzle of the vaporizer tube and convert the sub-assembly into a vertitable blow torch with its attendant hazards. For safety, the tank should be removed only after the flame has been turned off and the burner permitted to cool down.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for positively and securely locking the fuel tank sub-assembly to the casing to prevent inadvertent displacement or removal of the sub-assembly from the casing.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a casing having novel pivotally mounted leg supports so arranged in relation to the mounting means for the tank sub-assembly that when the leg supports are in collapsed condition the tank sub-assembly cannot be mounted on the casing.

The present invention is directed to mounting means for the tank sub-assembly, said means including leg members pivotally mounted on the stove casing and ar ranged to be manually moved to collapsed or erected positions. When the legs are in collapsed condition the tank sub-assembly cannot be mounted on the casing. Such mounting is possible only when the legs are in erected position. The legs are provided with cam means which intergage with headed studs on the tank sub-assembly to prevent inadvertent displacement or removal of the tank sub-assembly from the casing while the legs are in erected position and the stove is in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a top plan view of a camping stove, in accordance with my invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, showing the stove in erected position.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view, on an enlarged scale, similar to FIG. 2, but with the fuel tank subassembly removed.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of structural details.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are fragmentary front elevational views respectively, of the left and right leg members.

FIGS. 3 and 9 are front elevational views respectively, of the left and right key slots in the front wall of the casing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a portable camp stove comprising a sheet metal casing 10 of generally rectangular shapeincluding a grill 1 1 for supporting utensils, a cover 12 and side air deflector shields 13, 13, both hingedly connected to the casing and adapted to be erected, as shown in FIG. 2, for use or to be folded over the grill when the stove is being transported. The casing 10 houses the conventional U- shaped Bunsen tube 16 and a pair of burners 17. The parts just described are conventional and form no part of the present invention.

The camp stove includes a unitary sub-assembly 18 comprising a fuel tank 19, a valve body 21 and a generator or vaporizer tube 22. This sub-assembly is readily mountable on the casing for use and is detachable and storable within the casing when the stove is to be transported. While the construction and function of the sub-assembly 18 are generally conventional, in the present instance, the sub-assembly has been modified, as will be presently explained, for use in the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the tank 19 has welded thereto, preferably at the medial seam, a pair of spaced headed studs 23 which project rearwardly, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The front wall of the casing is provided with a pair of key slots 28 and 29, each arranged to receive a respective stud. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be seen that the key slots 28 and 29 are oppositely arranged, the key slot 28 shown in FIGS. 7 and 9 constituting the right hand slot having the reduced portion at the top, while the key slot 29 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8 and constituting the left hand slot having the reduced portion at the bottom.

A pair of allochirally arranged leg assemblies 31 and 32 are pivotally secured to the front and rear walls 26 and 27 and extend transversely across the bottom of the casing from front to rear. The right hand leg assembly 31, illustrated in FIG. 7, includes front and rear leg members 33 and 34 respectively, formed preferably of sheet metal and pivotally attached, as with rivets 35, to respective walls 26 and 27. It will be seen that the rivet 35 is disposed below and in vertical registration with the key slot 28. The leg member 33 includes an elongated slot 36 opening outwardly, with the slot being in radial alignment with the axis of the rivet 35 and having a width substantially equal to that of the enlarged portion of the key slot 28. The slot 36 is so disposed that the bottom thereof registers with the enlarged bottom portion of the key slot 28 when the leg member 33 is rocked so as to effect registration of the two slots. The edge of the leg member 38 immediately to the right of the slot, as viewed in FIG. 7, is cut away for a portion of its length, as at 39, so that it will be in alignment with the juncture of the enlarged and reduced portions of the key slot 28. The cut away edge portion 39 terminates in a detent portion 41 which is adjacent a shoulder 42 formed in the member. The lower portion of the member 33 is formed into a cylindrical portion 43 which is clamped onto the end of a tie bar 44, shaped substantially as illustrated in FIG. 3. The tie bar extends substantially across the width of the casing and is provided with upwardly bent end portions 46 received in the portion 43 of the leg members 33 and 34, the portions of the tie bar adjacent the end portions 46 being downwardly offset so as to provide a pair of feet 47 adapted to rest on a supporting surface. Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the members 33 and 34 are substantially identical in form, except that the lower cylindrical portions 43 are allochirally formed to receive the end portions 46 of the tie bar.

The left hand leg assembly 32 is formed allochirally to the leg assembly 31, just described, and is similarly pivotally connected to the front and rear walls of the casing. For purposes of convenience, certain of the cor responding parts of the left leg assembly will be identified with primed numerals corresponding to the numerals employed in identifying the parts shown in FlG. 7. It will be noted that the left hand key slot 29 is not disposed in the same relation to the left hand leg member 33' as is the right hand key slot 28 in relation to the right hand leg member 33, since there is no cooperative relation between these parts.

Referring to FIG. 7, it will be noted that except for the one position of leg member 33 in which the slot 36 is in accurate registration with the key slot 28, the enlarged portion of the key slot 28 in all other positions of leg member 33 is substantially concealed by the member 33 so that nothing may be passed through key slot 28. Thus, in order to mount the tank sub-assembly 18 on the casing 10 it is required that the leg member 33 be rocked to the dotted line position, illustrated in FIG. 7, in which the slot 36 is in registration with the key slot 28. This dotted line position, illustrated in FIG. 7, corresponds to the partially erected position of the leg assembly 31. The position illustrated in FIG. 6 represents the retracted or collapsed position of the leg assembly 32 and it will be understood that the right hand leg assembly 31 may be rocked to a similar position.

In out-of-use or transport position, both leg assemblies 31 and 32 are moved to the position illustrated in FIG. 6, it being understood that the leg assemblies are in allochiral relation to each other.

In order to mount the tank sub-assembly 18 to the casing 10 for operation of the stove, the leg assembly 31 is first rocked from collapsed condition to a position wherein the slot 36 is in registration with the key slot 23. The leg assembly 32 is similarly rocked. The heads of both studs 23 may now be passed through the enlarged portions of the respective key slots 28 and 29 and the leg assembly 31 may now be rocked counter clockwise, from the dotted line position to the solid line position, illustrated in FIG. 7. It will be noted that the edge portion 39 of the member 33 engages the shank of the stud 23 camming the same into the reduced portion of the key slot 28, as shown in FIG. 5, so that the stud cannot be withdrawn from the key slot. In the fully erected position of the leg assembly 31, as shown by the solid lines in FIGS. and 7, the shoulder 42 abuts the shank of stud 23 preventing further rocking movement of the leg assembly. In this position, the tank sub-assembly 18 is effectively locked to the casing and cannot be inadvertently or accidentally displaced from the casing. It will be noted that gravity will retain the left hand stud 23 in the reduced portion of the key slot 2% which, as shown in FIG. 8, is in reversed relation to key slot 28. It is also noted that the fully erected position assumed by the left hand leg assembly 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4, is limited by the engagement of the top edge of the cylindrical portion 43' with the bottom of the casing 10. Thus, the left hand leg assembly 32 when fully erected will occupy a position corresponding to the erected position of the right hand leg assembly 31 thereby maintaining the casing in a level position.

In order to prepare the stove for transport, after it has cooled down, the right hand leg assembly 31 is rocked to effect registration of the slots 28 and 36 and then the tank sub-assembly 1% is tipped to effect registration of the heads of the studs 23 with the enlarged portions of the respective key slots 28 and 29 so that the studs 23 may be withdrawn therefrom.

It will be apparent that only the leg member 33 is effective to lock the tank sub-assembly 18 to the casing. Accordingly, it will be understood that any other suitable leg construction may be employed in place of leg member 34 or leg assembly 32, since these members do not cooperate with any studs as hereinabove described.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiment shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claim.

I claim:

1. In combination a camp stove casing having a front wall having at least one key slot, at least one leg member pivotally mounted on said front wall in close proximity to said key slot and being selectively moveable to erected or collapsed positions, a fuel tank sub-assembly having mounting means arranged to be received in said slot, said leg member being arranged when the leg member is in collapsed position to block said key slot to prevent ingress of said mounting means into said key slot, said leg member when in erected position and said mounting means is received in said key slot engaging said mounting means and preventing displacement of said sub-assembly from said casing.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said leg member includes a camming edge engageable with the mounting means.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the mounting means includes a stud having an enlarged head arranged to pass only through the enlarged portion of said key slot with the body portion of the mounting means being received in the reduced portion of the slot.

4. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the leg member includes a sheet metal member having an edge constituting a camming surface engageable with the mounting means to retain said means in the reduced portion of the slot.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the front wall has a pair of key slots and the fuel tank assembly has a pair of mounting means, each including an enlarged head arranged to pass only through the enlarged portion of a respective slot.

6. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the leg member includes a sheet metal member having an edge constituting a camming surface terminating in a shoulder, said edge being arranged to cam said mountleg member when in erected position is so disposed that the weight of the casing urges the extension into engagement with the mounting means.

8. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which the ing means into the reduced portion of the slot and said 5 directions of the key Slots are oppositely arrangedshoulder when engaged with said mounting means disposing said leg member in erected position.

7. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the 9. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the leg member are allochirally arranged. 

1. In combination a camp stove casing having a front wall having at least one key slot, at least one leg member pivotally mounted on said front wall in close proximity to said key slot and being selectively moveable to erected or collapsed positions, a fuel tank sub-assembly having mounting means arranged to be received in said slot, said leg member being arranged when the leg member is in collapsed position to block said key slot to prevent ingress of said mounting means into said key slot, said leg member when in erected position and said mounting means is received in said key slot engaging said mounting means and preventing displacement of said sub-assembly from said casing.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said leg member includes a camming edge engageable with the mounting means.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the mounting means includes a stud having an enlarged head arranged to pass only through the enlarged portion of said key slot with the body portion of the mounting means being received in the reduced portion of the slot.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the leg member includes a sheet metal member having an edge constituting a camming surface engageable with the mounting means to retain said means in the reduced portion of the slot.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the front wall has a pair of key slots and the fuel tank assembly has a pair of mounting means, each including an enlarged head arranged to pass only through the enlarged portion of a respective slot.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the leg member includes a sheet metal member having an edge constituting a camming surface terminating in a shoulder, said edge being arranged to cam said mounting means into the reduced portion of the slot and said shoulder when engaged with said mounting means disposing said leg member in erected position.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the leg member when in erected position is so disposed that the weight of the casing urges the extension into engagement with the mounting means.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which the directions of the key slots are oppositely arranged.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the leg member are allochirally arranged. 